Textures

Question 1

Describe a monophonic texture.

Answer 1

It is a single melody line, usually one instrument and one singer. There is NO accompaniment it secondary melody.
A Gregorian chant is monophonic - all the monks sing the same melody together.

Question 2

What is a polyphonic texture?

Answer 2

Many lines of music that weave in and out of each other. AKA contrapuntal. It may contain an element of imitation, where one voice or instrument copies what has just been played.

Question 3

Describe a homophonic texture.

Answer 3

When the music all moves in harmony. It literally means “sounding together”. Homophonic music is played in block chords. AKA chordal music. In homophonic texture, other devices can be used, such as a walking bass, pedal notes or drones. Homophonic textures are all based around chords moving together at the same speed.

Question 4

What is a fugue?

Answer 4

It is a special type of polyphonic texture. It always begins with a tune that is played by someone or a group of instruments. This tube is then played by all the other instruments or voices in turn, but not necessarily at the same pitch

Question 5

What is heterophonic texture?

Answer 5

It is the simultaneous variation of a single melody line